They were completely unaware that someone was hiding behind the tree, silently clicking their photographs.
After Peter and Raya left, the shadow adjusted his camera and turned to leave.
But the very next moment, his steps came to an abrupt halt.
Rajat was standing right in front of him, glaring at him with burning rage.
The shadow tried to hide the camera and run, but Rajat caught him mid-way.
Struggling to break free, the man said,
"Let me go. I don't want to fight you."
Tightening his grip, Rajat growled,
"What are you doing here? Who sent you?"
The man let out a deep breath and glanced around cautiously.
Suddenly, his legs moved and in the very next second, he was standing several steps away from Rajat.
Rajat was stunned.
That man's agility was like that of a Suggestion Leopard.
It didn't even take him a second to escape Rajat's powerful grip.
Straightening his collar, the shadow said coldly,
"If it were anyone else in your place, I would've killed them for grabbing my collar.
Goodbye. We'll meet again."
Rajat stood there, still shocked.
The man turned around and disappeared instantly.
Rajat muttered to himself,
"That wasn't an ordinary man. I need to inform the boss as soon as possible."
With hurried steps, Rajat entered the café.
The café was completely clean, there wasn't a single trace left to suggest that three people had been brutally murdered there the previous night.
Rajat swept his gaze around.
Raya was standing behind the counter, making coffee for herself, while Peter was sitting on the floor near her feet.
Seeing this scene, Rajat's eyes narrowed.
He knew exactly why Peter was there.
Peter looked at Raya, folded his hands, and pleaded,
"Bro, please… help me one last time. After this, I swear I'll never bother you again. Promise."
Peter was Raya's schoolmate.
Since childhood, he had always called her "Bro."
You could say, Peter himself had given Raya that nickname.
Rajat grabbed Peter by the collar from behind and threw him away from Raya.
"How long will you keep harassing my boss? You've been repeating the same thing for two years now. Have you no shame? She has refused you countless times. How can you be this shameless? You show up every single day just to hear 'no' again."
Peter flew like a kite with its string cut and fell flat on his face.
The impact was severe, his nose started bleeding.
Yet, Peter didn't seem to mind at all.
Rubbing his waist, he sat up slowly, a faint smile on his lips.
Seeing that smile made Rajat's stern expression grow even colder.
Like a mischievous child, Peter crawled toward Rajat.
Rajat was tall and heavily built, his physique resembled that of a bodybuilder.
Standing before him, Peter looked like a child.
Suddenly, Peter clung to Rajat's pillar-like legs and said,
"Brother Rajat, you're the closest to Raya. Please, tell her to listen to me just once. I'll give you anything you want in return."
Rajat was dumbfounded.
Peter was trying to bribe him, in front of his own boss to manipulate her.
Rajat shook his leg and pushed Peter away.
"You've truly gone insane. Stay away from me, your presence is lowering my IQ."
Peter became desperate and started screaming like a spoiled child, rubbing his back against the floor.
Ignoring him, Rajat walked toward Raya, who was calmly sitting on the couch, sipping her coffee.
Rajat sat beside her.
Three coffee cups were placed on the table.
He picked one up and started drinking.
Peter's screams echoed through the café, so Rajat chose not to tell Raya about the spy yet.
After a while, Peter quieted down and crawled back toward them like an animal.
Rajat and Raya were used to his antics, so neither of them paid attention.
Peter picked up the third coffee cup and said with a smile,
"Bro, you made coffee for me too. You're so kind. Just a few moments ago, I was thinking you were a witch who would never help me. I was about to give up. But this coffee cup gave me new hope. You're not a witch, you're a goddess. And one day, you'll definitely listen to my request."
Rajat looked down at Peter with disgust.
"You're shameless and revolting. Even a chameleon would feel embarrassed in front of you."
Peter scratched his head, confused.
"Why does everyone say that to me? Am I that popular?"
Rajat sighed deeply and turned his face away, Peter's face was irritating him.
Taking a deep breath, Peter looked at Raya again. This time, his expression was serious.
"Raya, please… you just need to stand there. Your presence alone will be enough. My matter…"
Rajat cut him off angrily.
"Peter, the boss left that world years ago. Why do you want to drag her back into that swamp again? Even after knowing everything, how can you do this? Are you really her friend?"
Peter fell silent for a moment. Then he rubbed his face with his palm.
Raya, who had been quiet all this time, placed her coffee cup back on the table and looked at Peter.
Peter often rubbed his face like this when he was extremely anxious and scared.
Raya asked softly,
"Peter, why are you so disturbed? Did something happen?"
Peter looked up at her but didn't answer.
She asked again,
"Peter, did something happen?"
Shaking his head, Peter stood up.
"No. Forget it. I think I've been too selfish. Bye. We'll meet tonight at Sofia's birthday party."
Raya nodded.
Peter glanced at Rajat once before leaving.
Raya watched him go in silence, what was going on in her mind was impossible to tell.
Rajat spoke gravely,
"Boss, someone is keeping an eye on you."
Raya asked,
"Who?"
"I don't know. He was very fast. When I came out of the café, I saw a man in a red hoodie hiding and taking your photos. I tried to catch him, but he escaped. He wasn't an ordinary man."
Hearing this, Raya fell into deep thought.
She couldn't recall anyone who might be watching her.
It was noon.
A car entered the compound of Lotus Resort and stopped in front of a luxurious villa.
Numerous guards were stationed around the villa, long rifles held firmly in their hands.
A person stepped out from the driver's seat, wearing a red hoodie.
With the hood pulled low and a mask covering the face, their identity was completely hidden.
Tossing the car keys toward the staff, the red-hooded figure walked inside the villa.
The villa was empty.
Taking the elevator, the person reached the top floor.
There were two presidential suites.
The red-hooded figure walked toward the suite on the left and unlocked the door.
The door opened from inside.
Shaurya was standing there.
Seeing the person, Shaurya asked in confusion,
"You're here?"
The red-hooded figure removed the cap and mask.
"I need to meet the boss. I found out something important."
Shaurya stepped aside.
The person entered the suite.
As the mask and cap came off, long, thick hair cascaded down past the shoulders.
In reality, The person was a woman.
Shaurya said,
"Wait here. I'll go call Tashyam."
The girl nodded and sat down in the living area.
The suite was extremely lavish.
Shaurya headed toward the game zone.
Tashyam was playing billiards. Another man was there with him, seemingly around the same age.
Shaurya approached and said seriously,
"Tashyam, Mahima is here. She might've discovered something important related to Peter Johnson."
The moment Shaurya spoke, Tashyam's fingers, mid-strike… froze.
By 'Mahima,' Shaurya was referring to the same red-hooded girl who had encountered Rajat outside Raya's café.
Tashyam placed the cue stick on the table and walked away.
Shaurya picked up the stick and looked at the man standing on the opposite side of the table.
"I'll play in his place."
The man smiled and placed his cue on the table.
"Go ahead. But play alone."
Shaurya felt irritated by his words.
The man slipped his hands into his pockets and walked away.
Shaurya shouted after him,
"Tanush, you're becoming more arrogant by the day. Don't forget, Tashyam is my brother. We share the same blood. While you're nothing more than an outsider in his life, labeled as a 'friend.'"
Outside the game zone, Tanush heard everything, yet showed no reaction.
Tashyam entered the living area.
The moment Mahima saw him, she stood up.
Without saying a word, Tashyam sat down on a couch made of genuine leather.
Mahima pulled out an envelope from her jacket and placed it on the tea table in front of him.
By then, Tanush had also arrived there.
Tashyam opened the envelope.
Inside were several photographs.
He took them out and examined them carefully.
In the first few pictures, Peter appeared alone in different locations.
But in the last few photographs, Peter was with Raya.
Seeing Peter and Raya together, Tashyam's eyes darkened.
Tanush was standing right behind him.
Looking at the photos, Tanush said,
"How does your wife know Peter Johnson?"
Tashyam didn't answer…
Because, in truth, he didn't have an answer.
He looked at Mahima.
Understanding the unspoken question in his gaze, Mahima said,
"Boss, I observed them closely. From Madam's behavior and Peter Johnson's words, it felt like they know each other very well."
Hearing this, Tashyam sank into deep thought.
Tanush took the photos from Tashyam's hand and said,
"But how is that possible? Peter Johnson isn't an ordinary man. He's extremely dangerous. How could Raya know him?"
Mahima had no answer.
She had been keeping an eye on Peter since morning.
Rajat was mistaken,
Mahima wasn't watching Raya.
She was watching Peter.